Time To Say Goodbye [SJO]

[Amilthi Camlenn]

"Amilthi Camlenn", Amilthi introduced herself. "Grandmaster Kitra has kindly allowed to stay and study in your archives. And since Kashyyyk is closer to my home, I thought I might as well help you move."

She looked the other Jedi over for a few moments. He was maimed from battle, and perhaps in more ways than just the physical. Apparently the order's surgeons and technicians had not yet found the time to remedy these physical deficiencies, and Amilthi could only imagine the great strain that the constant reminder of their presence must put on the mind that inhabited this body. On top of it all, the need to be practical about the move made it understandably impossible to find the time and quiet to contemplate and deal with these issues. She would have liked to say something useful or at least encouraging to the other Jedi, but could not find anything to contribute. It was hardly the other's fault for making himself somewhat unapproachable, nor even really her own fault for not coming up with anything. It was simply a property of the configuration they had found themselves in and which had to be accepted.

"You're busy, of course. I'll leave you to it", she excused herself politely and respectfully.

[member="Yuroic Xeraic"]​

 

[000]

[member="Coci Heavenshield"] | [member="Stephanie Swail"]​

Theme: a farewell story to Voss here and back...head to the new beginning.


And so it was perched atop some rough outcrop near the edge of what had once been for the longest time the only home he came to know. As old memories only now barely come to light as such that he had been able to piece together some thought, not all of a life that once was his. Which now looking back seem but a lifetime ago and although fleeting at times feeling somewhat surreal. That it felt much like looking into a looking glass thru someone else eyes. For as much as those memories felt so much be his own to a point good or bad, he had learned to accept it so.

There were still for the most part bit or pieces of what happens next between what he had uncovered so far and his return that was unaccounted for. Of nightmares or dreams as he called them out to be for now that lingers still in the back his mind. As he then slowly took the few tentative steps down toward the Voss Temple ground that part him couldn't help reminiscing. Of the events that lead him here wherein orphaned at a very young age afraid, alone and traumatized by the sudden loss of just about everything he knew. He'd first came to know of Jedi and the force. Having been rescued and taken in by his first Master.... She took him in and training him so that he grew strong ..... became close to her to a point. That despite her fall to the darkside his connection to her never waiver. As such in her passing soon after that, he began to falter in his training as such that if it were not for Master I'ella intervention. That he would have been expelled out of the order. At which time he seems to have recover enough that he was given a second chance to prove himself. Which he seems did till it happened....wherein as best he could piece together from what little record survived the chaos that followed within the Order soon after. Where in he was initially declared dead soon after as somewhere between Master I'ella passing and his initial transfer to Master Coci. It was speculated that he perished alongside a secret small scouting party lead by some obscure Knight out in the wastelands.

And that he could have been easily left to his fate wandering the fringes of space if not for the chance meeting with Master Coci. Who took him back here and slowly but surely till her leaving had helped him to regain much which he had lost. Of being the light that brought him out of the darkness he found himself in.....and for that he would be always gratefull. To which end he sought her out.....

 

[Roona Osmari]

As the Colonel’s lips pulled up into a smile, Roona returned it with one of her own. She lit her cigarette and too a drag before handing the lighter back. Her duffels dropped to the floor next to her feet, and she lowered herself down into the chair offered up by Valkren. For a moment, she merely watched as their drifts of smoke rose up towards the ceiling. It was a bit surreal to be sitting here in such an empty room, everything was sparse and bare now – much like the rest of the Ranger campus.

“I am,” she answered, and gave her bags a small kick with the toe of her boot. “I didn’t have much to pack.” Gazing about his room, she arched a brow. “And it looks like you’re ready to go, too?”

Of course, she knew that an empty room was one thing – actually being prepared to leave was another.

For her own part, Roona was glad that the Colonel was making the trip to Kashyyyk. He was a steady constant for all of his rangers, a figure for his men to focus on and emulate. It wouldn’t have been the same without him. He had made her feel very welcome along the Radama Raiders. More than that, Roona felt like she hadn’t truly had the chance to get to know him yet. And she could not deny the beginning of what seemed to be attraction. It was a sentiment that she would keep hidden away.

Roona was not the sort of woman to fall head over heels for anyone.

Like most things, she approached situations like this with caution. So, for now, she was simply content to form the bonds of camaraderie. Flicking a bit of ash into the already full ashtray, she looked back to Valkren.

“How have you been holding up?” Her head canted to the side.

Indeed it was a bit of a loaded question.

[member="Valkren Calderon"]

 

[000]

[member="Coci Heavenshield"] | [member="Stephanie Swail"]​

Theme: a farewell story to Voss here and back...head to the new beginning.

​

​

And soon while he wanders about looking for Master Coci that he found himself walking into the Orchard field. Where looking about he could not help notice as well smell with the passing breeze how sweet the air was. With most if not all the trees now in full bloom part of him could not help but reminisce. As his gaze turn to glance over at one of the few streams nearby that a faint smile crosses his lip which was soon followed by a deep sad sigh. As his thought turn to think of her..... and of her cat who'd ended up taking a dunk in the river with him. She who thru no fault of hers got into a quite a bit of trouble and mischief because of him. Wandering off unannounced and ending up having been rescued by a search party.

And how as times passed that despite his better judgment. The two them became inseparable to a point an old acquaintance of his had made it a point to point blank ask. And he neither denied nor confirm anything going on between them despite the fact. Made him go out his way to join a campaign with her even though he knew all too well he was ill-prepared. How it pains him so when she got injured during the fight and he couldn't help feel helpless as he was unable to be there for her. At which time the two they soon grew apart and as far he knew she'd gone off to move away with her mother. Never getting the chance talk nor see her again for the longest time it seemed all he had to her was memories. At which time not wanting wallow much in the past he continued move on.

 

[Valkren Calderon]

[SIZE=10.5pt]The young colonel closed his eyes as he took another drag of the cigarette Osmari had lent to him, opening them as he exhaled through his nostrils soon after she asked this question. Honestly, he didn't know how to answer it. So much had happened, and he preferred not to lie to his soldiers, especially those under his command.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]He hated lying to those he cared about.[/SIZE]

The ranger kicked up his feet onto the bare bed, cigarette still between his lips as he tucked both his hands behind his head to provide himself a make-shift pillow. He watched as smoke drifted to the low ceiling above his bunk, the emptiness of his bed finally setting in as he stared upwards.

"Can I be straight-forward with you, Roona?" The colonel didn't use her first name often, usually referring to the marksman as 'Echo,' or her actually title Sergeant Osmari.

You can't show weakness, you're pathetic.

Something inside of Valkren made him want to spill to her everything that had been haunting him since Mirial. Then again, why should he open up? Just a better chance of losing someone you get even more attached to.

Just like Arisa, you karkin' fool.

[member="Roona Osmari"]

 

[WelshPsych]

Yuroic sensed that the woman was being honest and shook his head. "Stay and help, please. Sorry on my rudeness but one sadly cannot be as trusting as they would like in these troubled times. There have been too many spies and infilrators. We need to be more cautious."

He moved around, leaning heavily on his stick as he did. Before watching a soldier carefully pack their archives away. "You know, the Jedi seem to be retreating alot. A faction retreated from Yutan not long ago. Then there was a Sith bombardment of the world. I was trapped in the temple during that bombardment. I just hope that the people here don't suffer like the others did on Yutan. It was painful, feeling and seeing the death of so many."

Yuroic hadn't talked much of that day on Yutan. Not beyond the debrief he gave when he returned to Silver space. Sadly, it was a strong reminder of the dangers that were brought with leaving a planet affiliated with the Jedi. "Anyway, ignore my self pity. When we have sorted out ourselves on Kashyyyk, I will be happy to show you around the new archives so you can get familiar with them once more. We must work together to achieve peace."

[member="Amilthi Camlenn"]

 

[Amilthi Camlenn]

Amilthi looked at Yuroic in surprise for a moment, then smiled briefly. The man really shouldn't have to work on effecting the order's move. There was much weighing on his mind, and he seemed uncertain about how to come to terms with it. He was hesitant to talk about it, but perhaps he had an urge to do so. It helped some people to see their own experiences, described in words, from an outside perspective, whereas they would be trapped in their own point of view if they only engaged with them in their own head.

"I understand", she said earnestly. "It can be quite distabilising such a series of events, and then it takes much work to put oneself back together - mentally and physically. You'll know that as well as I do - but if there's anything a stranger can do to help..."

"If it's not too much trouble, would you tell me what happened on Yutan? I'm... not very aware of current events, I'm afraid. But I seem to remember that it's a member of the Commenor Systems Alliance, which is... very neutral." She looked at him inquisitively.

[member="Yuroic Xeraic"]​

 

[WelshPsych]

Yuroic looked over at her as he grabbed a holocron and placed it into a crate. "Yutan was left by another Jedi Order faction, their sister faction, the Commenor, had gotten into disputes with the planet's government. I had been researching on locations for Jedi to hide, was looking for someone I once knew. However, during the visit, a Sith armada trespassed and decided that since Yutan once homed Jedi that it should be obliterated. Bombarding it and killing thousands if not millions. I was lucky to be in the temple during the bombardment and helped civilians inside seek refuge from the debris." Yuroic remembered it clearly in his mind. It seemed so chaotic at first. So dangerous and life threatening, now it was nothing to his experience on Mirial.

"The Sith also gained victory in preventing our attack on the planet Mirial. We thought we could catch them by surprise, having not been on the offensive for so long, but it wasn't enough. There were Sithspawned zombies and I fought and lost against a cyborg made of phrik. Others suffered injuries as well, the worst being the death of my former Master, Arisa Yune." He paused and felt his rush of emotions, remembering the pain and lost he gained from that battle. He was forever broken by it, it seemed.

Moving to take another holocron, Yuroic pushed tears away and focused on helping the SJO move forward. "However, with our move, we can start fresh. Something I intend to do as well. Think we need a Head Librarian, someone who can tell these Padawans and soldiers how to treat our knowledge. Not like I can go into battle." Yuroic's bittered comment made he chuckle sadly.

[member="Amilthi Camlenn"]

 

[Amilthi Camlenn]

Amilthi sighed as she heard the story of Yutan, her gaze falling to the ground. It sounded like a sad and, what was worse, so utterly pointless act of violence, though at the same time she knew that this appearance could also mean that there was a background she was ignorant of. She couldn't say she envied Yuroic, who must have received the same impression, for having been personally involved.

She raised her eyes again at the mention of Mirial, a fleeting expression of skepticism showing on her face. She had heard word of the event from different parties, and while no entirely clear picture had emerged, Amilthi's suspicion that this battle may have been the result of an ill-conceived manoeuvre had not been dispelled. Perhaps that was why the Silver Jedi now retreated from this corner of the galaxy, leaving before the front line could arrive and plunge the worlds under their protection into open war. It seemed likely that many of them would come to be controlled by the Sith in the next months, but perhaps this change of rulership could proceed in a less violent fashion.

Amilthi joined the Knight in picking holocrons from a shelf and stacking them in the crate. She looked him over with a wry smile after his last remark. "That, I suppose, should be only a matter of when your medical technicians and surgeons find the time", she said encouragingly before her expression turned serious. She considered for a moment before continuing. "But going into battle won't do you any good even when your body allows it, and there's no reason you should ruin yourself pointlessly. And if I may say so, you shouldn't try to just bury yourself in the work of a librarian, either. Take time for yourself, meditate, and put your mind back in order. You may find it callous of me to say this, but I've seen my share of war in the past. That sense of urgency that you're feeling, the need to fix this universe, and the hopelessness in the face of the impossible task - perhaps you think that you need these things to drive you, but they will only continue to cause suffering if you don't let go of them. They will not go away, and... it seems wrong to say that you won't stop caring - in a sense, you will stop caring, but you will still be able to do what is necessary. Only you will be able to look at things with equanimity instead of being crushed by their impact. No good comes from one more person being miserable. And personally I've come to think that kindness is a better, healthier reason to help others than duty. It is more resilient and less easily corrupted."

"Forgive me if I'm being presumptuous", conceded Amilthi politely, but soon a wry, almost mischievous smile appeared around her lips and eyes. "I expect I couldn't hold a candle to you in a fight, but I do have some experience with the workings of the mind and how to change them. Developing awareness of the Force, as all Initiates are taught, isn't all there is to meditation."

[member="Yuroic Xeraic"]​

 

[Roona Osmari]

Roona glanced down at the worn surface of Valkren’s desk, she wondered for a moment just how many hours he’d spent sitting in this very spot. If his service record was any indication – she imagined that he was out in the field far more often than he was here. The momentary lull that had settled between them seemed surprisingly comfortable, Roona didn’t feel terribly awkward. There wasn’t a need to fill the quiet with small talk.

Leaning forward, she propped her elbows up against the desktop. Shifting her gaze to the bed, she watched as the Colonel got comfortable. With the cigarette wedged between two fingers, she brought it up to her lips and took a long drag. Closing her eyes, Roona exhaled and let another drift of smoke free.

Her eyes fluttered open when she heard the Colonel speak her name.

There were very few here that actually called her Roona – Sergeant, Echo, her surname, those seemed to be the norm. It was unexpected coming from him, but not unwelcome by any means. Tilting her head to the side slightly, she wondered if there was something troubling the Colonel. Though her own force sensitivity was still very raw and undeveloped, she could sense the inkling of emotions. It was just enough to make her eyes soften.

“Always,” She said giving him a steady nod, “Please speak your mind.”

[member="Valkren Calderon"]